The University of San Carlos (USC), in collaboration with Hiroshima University and Visayas State University (VSU), hosted the 2nd International Agri-Life Bioresource Sciences Symposium (IABSS) at the SAFAD Theater in Talamban Campus last February 26–27, 2026.
The conference convened global delegates from the academe, government agencies like the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the private sector. This collective expertise aims to catalyze positive transformations and sustainable advancements within the global agricultural landscape.
Knowledge sharing
On behalf of USC President Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs Fr. Jesuraj Anthoniappen, SVD, Ph.D. delivered the welcome address. He hailed IABSS as a testament to international diplomacy and academic collaboration united by a vision to better serve humanity and safeguard the planet.
Building on the 2025 inaugural symposium at VSU, Fr. Anthoniappen described the event as a dynamic platform for knowledge sharing. He anticipates these conversations will evolve into long-term institutional partnerships, joint research, and faculty exchanges addressing food security and climate change.
Critical research
VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy Guasa Yepes affirmed her support, highlighting VSU’s role as a green university dedicated to the future of food systems. She emphasized that IABSS brings critical research to the forefront to address pressing global issues beyond the agricultural sector.
Dr. Yepes stressed that achieving climate resilience and bioresource innovation requires a unified effort. She advocated for radical collaboration, urging universities to share laboratories and expertise to empower the world’s most vulnerable communities through transparent, collective scientific inquiry.
Strategic human resource development
The opening ceremony concluded with the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USC, represented by Fr. Anthoniappen and VSU, represented by Dr. Yepes, followed by a rationale delivered by Hiroshima University’s representative Dr. Lawrence Liao.
Dr. Liao characterized the symposium as a vital tripartite engagement, reflecting the historical and academic interconnectedness between Japan and the Philippines. He highlighted how Hiroshima University’s doctoral programs and scholarships for USC and VSU staff have fostered strategic, long-term human resource development and sustainable academic linkages.
Growing great ideas
Consul General Hon. Yudai Ueno, Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu, offered a message of support, noting that great ideas grow when passionate minds come together. He commended the partners for studying innovations that provide practical solutions for local communities.
Consul General Ueno emphasized that 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Filipino-Japanese friendship. He expressed hope that this scientific synergy would translate into real-world benefits for farmers and future generations, reinforcing a shared commitment to inclusive, sustainable growth and international harmony.
Exploring bioresource sciences
Following the speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the research poster exhibition, showcasing the participants’ breakthrough studies.
The symposium featured an elite roster of keynote speakers, including Danilda Hufana-Duran, Ph.D. (Philippine Carabao Center) who spoke on advancing livestock productivity through reproductive biotechnologies. USC visiting professor Michael Lochinvar Abundo, Ph.D. (OceanPixel) discussed building “Blue Economy” clusters and taking advantage of the Philippines’ rich marine resources.
Other keynote lectures included Masayuki Shimada, Ph.D. (Hiroshima University) on international research trends, and Quenstein Lauzon, Ph.D. (VSU) on revaluing aquatic waste as bioactive resources.
Plenary sessions featured expert insights from Shigeki Wada, Ph.D. (Hiroshima University) on seaweed forests as blue carbon sinks, and Sanny David P. Lumayno, Ph.D. (University of the Philippines Visayas) on climate-adaptive aquaculture.
Masahide Nishibori, Ph.D. (Hiroshima University) explored the genetic diversity of Asian native livestock, while Dr. Fabio Enriquez (Department of Agriculture Regional Office VII) outlined the outlook for Philippine agriculture. Patrick C. Cabaitan, Ph.D. (University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute) addressed coral reef sustainability, while Kwan-Suk Kim, Ph.D. (Chungbuk National University) discussed globalizing animal genetic research to future-proof livestock systems.
Parallel sessions offered deep dives into economic opportunities within agriculture and medicinal innovations involving endemic Philippine flora, among others.
Impact on SDGs 14 and 15
Closing the event, USC Research, Development, Extension, and Publications Office Director Patrick John Y. Lim, Ph.D. presented how the three partner universities have significantly outperformed global benchmarks in Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15 regarding marine and terrestrial biodiversity.
Dr. Lim urged researchers to translate their high-impact publications into tangible community change.
The University of San Carlos extends our sincerest gratitude to all the attendees and researchers from various local and international organizations who participated in expanding the discourse on sustainable bioresource management. Thank you for sharing data and initiating conversations that will lead to potential collaborations. These collaborations ensure that academic research remains a powerful tool for environmental stewardship and community-centered innovation.